Means for securing a snowboard or ski to the boot of a snowboarder or skier

ABSTRACT

A transmission device (100) for a snowboard comprises a longitudinal base plate (101) to which is fitted a binding (11, 12) for a boot (6) and two spacers (131, 132) allocated to the base plate (101) and the snowboard body (1). The spacers (131, 132) are fitted in the central longitudinal region of the base plate (101) and are themselves a distance (F) apart. The base plate (101) has downwardly directed and longitudinally running ribs (105). The spacers (131 and 132) have a U-shaped cross-section with a base (133) and arms (134, 135). The base plate (101) lies on the base (133) and between the arms (134, 135) of the spacer. The base plate (101) and the spacers (131, 132) are secured to the snowboard body (1) by screws (141, 142).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a means for securing a snowboard or skito the boot of the snow-boarder or skier.

2. Prior Art

A means of this generic type is already known and is disclosed inOE-C[sic] 299 030. This known means comprises a sole plate, on the upperside of which the binding parts are fastened. Projecting from theunderside of the sole plate is a spacer piece whose underside isfastened on the body of the ski. The spacer-piece dimension in thelongitudinal direction of the sole plate is smaller, by a multiple, thanthe length of the sole plate. The short spacer piece is intended toconcentrate those forces originating from the ski boot on a small areaof the narrowest part of the ski body, in order that the ski body canbend effectively during skiing.

The ski bodies are of different designs and the skis are used indifferent manners. Said rigid spacer piece cannot transmit the forces tothe ski body such that said force transmission takes account of theproperties of the respective ski-body design and/or of the desiredskiing style.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to eliminate these and additionaldisadvantages of the prior art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention are explained in more detailhereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows, partially in vertical section, a detail of a centralregion of a ski which is provided with a first embodiment of the meansaccording to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the essential parts of the means from FIG.1,

FIG. 3 shows a vertical section of a second embodiment of the meansaccording to the invention,

FIG. 4 shows, partially in vertical section, the central section of analpine ski, said central section being equipped with a third embodimentof the means according to the invention,

FIG. 5 shows a side view of a base plate of the means according to FIG.4,

FIG. 6 shows a plan view of the base plate from FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 shows a front view of the base plate from FIG. 5,

FIG. 8 shows an enlarged detail from the central part of the skidepicted in FIG. 4,

FIG. 9 shows a front view of a first embodiment of a spacer piece of themeans according to FIG. 4,

FIG. 10 shows a plan view of the spacer piece from FIG. 9,

FIG. 11 shows a vertical section of the central section of an alpineski, said central section being equipped with a fourth embodiment of themeans according to the invention,

FIG. 12 shows a vertical section of a detail from a fifth embodiment ofthe present invention,

FIG. 13 shows a plan view of the base plate of the means acccording toFIG. 4, two spacer pieces being assigned thereto,

FIG. 14 shows a front view of the arrangement according to FIG. 13,

FIG. 15 shows a plan view of a second embodiment of the spacer piece,

FIG. 16 shows a front view of the spacer piece from FIG. 15,

FIG. 17 shows a plan view of a first embodiment of a two-part spacerpiece,

FIG. 18 shows a plan view of a second embodiment of a two-part spacerpiece,

FIG. 19 shows a front view of the spacer piece from FIG. 17 or 18,

FIG. 20 shows a bottom view of the base plate of the means according toFIG. 4, two two-part spacer pieces being assigned thereto,

FIG. 21 shows a front view of the arrangement from FIG. 20,

FIG. 22 shows a side view of the arrangement from FIG. 20,

FIG. 23 shows a vertical section of a further embodiment of thearrangement from FIG. 20 with two-part spacer pieces, the section beingtaken perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of this arrangement,

FIG. 24 shows a vertical section of a further embodiment of thearrangement from FIG. 13 with single-part spacer pieces, the sectionbeing taken perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of thisarrangement,

FIG. 25 shows a vertical section of one of the spacer pieces, or one ofthe parts of one of the spacer pieces, which has a toothed edge,

FIG. 26 shows a plan view of a particularly stiff embodiment of the baseplate of the means according to FIG. 4,

FIG. 27 shows a vertical section through the last-mentioned base plate,

FIG. 28 shows a plan view of the base plate of the means according tothe invention which is intended for a snowboard,

FIG. 29 shows a side view of the arrangement according to FIG. 28, thebase plate being provided with two spacer pieces,

FIG. 30 shows a front view of the arrangement from FIG. 29,

FIG. 31 shows a plan view of the base plate of the means according tothe invention which is intended for a monoski,

FIG. 32 shows a front view of the arrangement from FIG. 31, and

FIGS. 33 to 35 show a further embodiment of this means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates, partially in vertical section, a detail from analpine ski, while FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the essential parts fromFIG. 1. The body 1 of the ski has a front part 2 and a rear part 3,FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrating in each case only that section of each ofsaid end parts 2 and 3 which adjoins the central part 5 of the skibody 1. The ski-body end parts 1 and 2 are wider than the central part5. The ski body 1 is provided with a means for securing the ski body 1to a ski boot 6 (FIG. 1).

The securing means also comprises, inter alia, a ski binding which isknown per se and has a front binding 11 and a rear binding 12. Both thefront binding 11 and the rear binding 12 have horizontally runningprotrusions 15 and 16, respectively, which are known per se. The skiboot 6 has an upper 7 and a sole 8 which adjoins said upper 7 and is ofa design which is known per se, the sole 8 having end extensions, whichare likewise known per se, at the front and rear. The protrusions 15 and16 of the ski binding grip over the upper side of the end extensions ofthe sole and lie above the latter. C indicates, in FIG. 1, the distancebetween the binding parts 11 and 12 or the length of the ski boot 6.

The securing means in question further comprises a device 50 which isdesigned such that it can transmit those forces which originate from theski boot 6 into the narrowest region 5 of the width of the ski body 1.This transmission device 50 comprises two flat spacer pieces 51 and 52and a base plate 53.

The spacer pieces 51 and 52 are arranged between the ski body 1 and thebase plate 53 and are spaced apart from one another by a distance Fwhich is smaller than the length C of the sole 8 of the ski boot 6, orthan the distance C between the front binding 11 and the rear binding12. The spacer pieces 51 and 52 are fitted on the upper side of the skibody 1 such that they can be displaced and fixed in the longitudinaldirection of said ski body 1.

The respective spacer piece 51 or 52 has a basic body 45 comprising anessentially cuboidal piece of material, which may be metal or plastic.One of the base surfaces 55 of the spacer piece 51 or 52 rests on theupper side of the ski body 1. The other base surfaces 54 of the spacerpiece 51 or 52 is assigned to the underside of the base plate 53.

At least one through-opening 56 is made in the basic body 45 of thespacer piece 51 or 52 and extends between the base surfaces 54 and 55 ofthe spacer piece, this opening 56 opening out in the base surfaces 54and 55 of the basic body 45. The cross section of the opening 56 may becircular, square, elongate or the like, the walls of said opening 56expediently being perpendicular to the base surfaces 54 and 55. If theopening 56 is elongate, then the longer dimension of this opening 56extends parallel to the length of the ski body 1. In the caseillustrated, the cross section of the opening 54 is square.

The spacer piece 51 or 52 has four outer side walls 57. These outerwalls 57 may be at right angles to the base surfaces 54 and 55 of thespacer piece 51 or 52. In the case illustrated, however, the outer sidewalls 57 run obliquely with respect to said spacer-piece base surfaces54 and 55, with the result that the spacer pieces 51 and 52 have theexternal shape of a truncated pyramid in which the smaller base surface55 is located at the bottom. The larger base surface 54 of the spacerpieces 51 and 52 faces, or is assigned to, the base plate 53.

The base plate 53 is designed as an elongate plate, the longitudinaldirection of which coincides with the longitudinal direction of the skibody 1. In this case, the base plate 53 is at least long enough for thefront binding 11 and the rear binding 12 to be located on this plate 43.The upper side 46 and the underside 47 of the base plate 53 are planarand run virtually parallel to one another. At least two openings 65 aremade in the central region of the base plate 53, these openings beinglocated one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of said baseplate 53. Screws 58 pass through these openings 65 and can assist theoperation of fixing the base plate 53 on the ski body 1 with theinterposition of the spacer pieces 51 and 52.

In the case illustrated in FIG. 2, the base plate 53 is provided withtwo groups 61 and 62 of openings and/or bores, these groups beinglocated one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the plate53. The respective group 61 or 62 comprises two lateral bores 63 and 64,each of which is located nearer to one of the side edges of the baseplate 53, as well as a central bore 65, which is arranged between thelateral bores 63 and 64, approximately in the center of the width of thebase plate 53. In each case one screw 58 passes through the lateralbores 63 and 64 and additionally passes through the opening 56 in one ofthe spacer pieces 51 and 52.

A distance or clearance is provided between the inner walls 67 of theopening 56 in the spacer pieces 51 and 52 and the screws 58, with theresult that the spacer pieces 51 and 52 can, if required, be displacedindividually, with respect to the ski body 1 and the base plate 53 ofthe transmission device 50, in the longitudinal direction and/ortransverse direction of the ski body 1. The set position of therespective spacer piece 51 or 52 with respect to the ski body 1 and thebase plate 53 can be fixed by tightening the screws 58.

It is also possible, in this manner, to select or set the distance Fbetween the spacer pieces 51 and 52, or the distance F between the outeredges 66 and 68 of the spacer pieces 51 and 52, or between the pressurepoints D1 and D2 on the ski body 1. With an adjustment, with respect tothe ski body 1, of the position of the spacer pieces 51 and 52 spacedapart from one another by a constant distance, it is possible for theforce from the ski boot 6 to be transmitted to various points on the skibody 1. The abovementioned possibilities for setting the transmissiondevice 50 permit, inter alia, optimum coordination between theparameters of the respective ski and the capabilities of the skier usingthis ski.

The lateral bores 63 and 64 in the base plate 53 may also be designed asslots, the longitudinal direction of which runs perpendicularly to thelongitudinal direction of the ski body 1. Such slots 63 and 64 permitlateral displacement of the base plate 53 toward one of the edges of theski body 1. Such lateral displacement of the base plate 53 also causesthe ski binding 11 and 12, which is fastened on at the base plate 53, tobe displaced laterally with respect to the ski body 1. Such displacementmakes it possible for the pressure to be concentrated optimally on thenecessary zone of the inner edge of the controlling ski.

Since the base plate 53 is only connected to the ski body 1 in itscentral region, a guide device 70 is provided for the respective endpart 48 or 49, which foresees from the respective binding part 11 or 12,respectively, of the base plate 53. Said guide device 70 comprises aslot 71 in the relevant end part 48 or 49 of the base plate 53, thelongitudinal direction of this slot coinciding with the longitudinaldirection of the base plate 53. The guide device 70 additionallycomprises a guide piece 72 which comprises a foot plate 73 and a stub 74which projects virtually at right angles from said foot plate 73. Thediameter of the stub 74 is selected such that said stub 74 can bepositioned in the slot 71 without play. The underside of the foot plate73 is fastened on the upper side of the ski body 1 such that the stub 74is located in the slot 71. The length of the stub 74 is such that thefree end face of the stub 74 is located virtually in the plane of theupper side 46 of the base plate 73 when the ski body 1 is not subjectedto loading.

When the ski is traveling through a curve, then the ski body 1 bends orthe front of the ski 2 and the rear of the ski 3 bend toward the ends ofthe foot plate 73. At the same time, the stub 74 moves upward and in thelongitudinal direction of the ski because the front of the ski 2 and therear of the ski 3 respectively bend around the front edge 66 and aroundthe rear edge 68 of the spacer pieces 51 and 52. In order to prevent thefront of the ski 2 and the rear of the ski 3 from vibrating in thiscase, damping means (not illustrated) are arranged between the baseplate 53 and the respective guide device 70.

The transmission device 50 which is depicted in vertical section in FIG.3 largely corresponds to the device according to FIGS. 1 and 2. The maindifference from FIGS. 1 and 2 is that the device 50 which is depicted inFIG. 3 also comprises a damping device 30. This damping device 30contains an elongate cover plate 31 which is advantageously made ofmetal and which extends in the longitudinal direction of the ski body 1.The base plate 53 and the spacer pieces 51 and 52 are fastened on thiscover plate 51 with the aid of screws 58. These screws 58 pass throughthe lateral openings 63 and 64 in the base plate 53 and through thespacer pieces 51 and 52.

The cover plate 31 has a main section 35 and end sections 36 and 37. Themain section 35 runs in a rectilinear manner and lies in one plane. Eachend section 36 or 37 of the cover plate 31 is made up of an obliquesection and a lug. One end of the oblique section adjoins one end of themain section 35 and runs obliquely downward toward the ski body 1. Theother end of the oblique section is adjoined by the lug, which runsvirtually parallel to the main section 35. Said lug rests on the upperside of the ski body 1.

The rear end part 36 [sic] of the cover plate 31 is fastened on the skibody 1 with the aid of means 32 which are known per se, for example bymeans of at least one screw. Located in the front region of the coverplate 31 is a claw 34, which is fastened on the ski body 1 and gripsover the front end 35 [sic] of the cover plate 31. When the ski body 1bends, for example when it is traveling through a curve, the front end35 [sic] of the cover plate 31 can slide beneath the claw 34.

The oblique sections 36 and 37 cause the main section 35 of the coverplate 31 to be spaced apart from the upper side of the ski body 1. Thespace between the main section 35 and the ski body 1 is filled with adamping plate 33 which is made of a compliant material. Since thedamping layer 33 of this device 30 may, in certain circumstances, becomparatively soft and since the cover plate 31 of this device 30 isthin and, in addition, is only fastened at its rear end 36 [sic], astrengthening screw 59 passes through the respective central hole 65 oneach of the groups 61 and 62 of openings of the base plate 53. Thesestrengthening screws 59 are not only thicker, but also longer, than thelateral screws 58, with the result that the strengthening screws 59 passthrough the damping device 30 and are only screwed in once they reachthe ski body 1.

In order that the base plate 53 can also be displaced laterally withrespect to the ski body 1, the central openings 65 in the base plate 53are designed as slots. The longitudinal direction of these slots 65 isperpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the ski body.

FIG. 4 shows a vertical section of the central section of an alpine ski.FIG. 8 shows an enlarged detail from the central part of the skidepicted in FIG. 4. The present embodiment of the transmission device100 has an elongate base plate 101 (FIGS. 5 to 7). The width of saidbase plate 101 is approximately the same as the width of the centralsection 5 of the ski body 1, or the width of said base plate 101 issomewhat smaller than the width of the ski body 1 in this, narrowest,region 5. The base plate 101 has a plate-like part 102. The base plate101 additionally has ribs 103, 104, 105, 106, 107 and 108 which projectat right angles from the underside of the plate part 102.

The ribs 103 to 108 extend in the longitudinal direction of the platepart 102 and of the base plate 101 and of the ski body 1, and they aredistributed over the width of the plate part 102. The ribs 103 to 108are spaced apart from one another and run virtually parallel to oneanother and parallel to the longitudinal direction of the elongate baseplate 101 of the transmission device 100. The ribs 103 to 108 have anessentially square cross section. In the case illustrated, the ribs 103to 108 have a rectangular cross section, the respective rib adjoiningthe plate part 102 of the base plate 101 with its shorter side. The ribs103 to 108 may be integral with the plate part 102.

The outer side surface 109 or 110 of the rib 103 or 108, these two ribsbeing located on the respective longitudinal border of the plate part102, is lush with the abutting side edge of the plate part 102. Theremaining four ribs 104 to 107 form a group located between the borderribs 103 and 108 and concentrated in the central region of the gapbetween the border ribs 103 and 108. The individual central ribs 104 to107 are spaced apart by virtually the same distance L. However, thisdistance L is smaller than that distance M which is provided between thegroup of central ribs 104 to 107 and one of the outer ribs 103 or 108.It is possible to change the stiffness of the base plate 101 by changingthe thickness of the plate part 102, the thickness, and the number, ofthe ribs 103 to 108, etc.

The narrow side 111 of the ribs 103 to 108, said narrow side beingremote from the plate part 102, has sections 112, 113 and 114. The firstsection 112 of the rib edge 111 runs virtually parallel to the upperside 115 of the plate part 102, and this rib section 112 is longer thanthe remaining rib sections 113 and 114. The remaining sections 113 and114 of the ribs 103 to 108 extend between the central rib section 112and the relevant end 116 or 117, respectively, of the plate part 102.The rib end sections 113 and 114 run obliquely upward, i.e. slope upwardfrom the central rib part 112 toward the associated end edge 116 or 117of the plate part 102. In the case illustrated, the central ribs 104 to107 are shorter than the outer ribs 103 and 108, with the result thatthe underside of the plate part 102 are in planar in the end regions 48and 49 of said plate part 102. On the contrary, the outer ribs 103 and108 only terminate once they reach the respective phase 126 of the endedge 116 or 117.

A bore 120, which is a threaded bore in the present case, is madeapproximately in the center of the plate part 102. In each case onegroup 121 and 122 of bores are made in the plate part 102 at a distancefrom said central bore 120. The respective group 121 or 122 comprisestwo outer bores 123 and 124 and a bore 125 located therebetween. Therespectively outer bore 123 or 124 is located in the region of the widergap M between one of the outer ribs 103 or 108 and the group of ribs 104to 107. The opening 125 located between the outer openings 123 and 124is arranged in the central gap L between the central ribs 105 and 106.

While the outer openings 123 and 124 are arranged on a common line whichis at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the plate part 102,the opening 125 located therebetween is arranged so as to be offset awayfrom this line toward the nearest end edge 116 or 117 of the plate part102. The distance between the groups 121 and 122 of openings is smallerthan the length of the central section 112 of the lower edge 111 of theribs. The corner parts of the plate part 102 are provided with phases126. The direction of the plate part 102 mounted on the ski body 1coincides with the longitudinal direction of the ski body 1. In thiscase, the base plate 101 is long enough for it to be possible for thefront binding 11 and the rear binding 12 to be fastened on said plate101.

The transmission device 100 further comprises two spacer or transmissionpieces 131 and 132 which are arranged between the base plate 101 and theski body 1. The respective spacer piece 131 or 132 has a U-shaped crosssection (FIG. 9) with a base 133 and with legs 134 and 135. The spacerpieces 131 and 132 are assigned to the ski body 1, such that the outerside of the base 133 of the respective spacer piece 131 or 132 faces theupper side of the ski body 1. Consequently, legs 134 and 135 for thespacer piece 131 or 132 are directed upward and are located between theribs 103 to 108 of the base plate 101.

Longitudinal openings or slots 136, 137 and 138 (FIG. 10) which runparallel to the longitudinal direction of the legs 134 and 135 are madein the base 133 of the spacer piece 131 or 132. The width of these slots136 to 138 corresponds to the diameter of the openings 123, 124 and 125in the base plate 102. The distance of the slots 136 to 138 from oneanother corresponds to the distance of the openings 123 to 125 from oneanother.

The distance of the legs 134 and 135 on the spacer piece 131 or 132 fromone another is selected such that the outer surfaces 139 of the legs 134and 135 on the spacer piece 131 or 132 may be located between the innersurfaces of the outer ribs 103 and 108 on the base plate 102. The heightof the legs 134 and 135 is comparable to the height of the ribs 103 to108 on the base plate 102.

In the case illustrated in FIG. 4, a pressure-distributing plate 140 islocated on the upper side of the ski body 1. In such a case, the spacerpieces 131 and 132 are located on the distributing plate 140, althoughthe spacer pieces 131 and 132 could also rest directly on the skibody 1. The base plate 101, the pressure-distributing plate 140 and thespacer pieces 131 and 132 may be made of various materials.

The base plate 102 and the spacer pieces 131 and 132 are retained on theski body 1 with the aid of screws, or groups of screws, which passthrough the groups 121 and 122 of openings and the slots 136 to 138 andare screwed into the ski body 1. The spacer pieces 131 and 132, or theirmutually facing inner side edges 128 and 129, are spaced apart from oneanother by a distance F. It is possible to change this distance F bydisplacing the spacer pieces 131 and 132, which the slots 136 to 138made in said spacer pieces 131 and 132 readily permit. The spacer pieces131 and 132 can thus be displaced and fixed on the upper side of the skibody 1 in the longitudinal direction of the latter. This distance Fbetween the spacer pieces 131 and 132 is smaller than the length of thesole 8 of the ski boot 6 or the distance between the front binding 11and the rear binding 12. It is also possible to change and fix theposition of the individual spacer piece 131 or 132 with respect to theski body 1 or the base plate 102 with the aid of the screws 141 and 142.

Adjustment of the position of the spacer pieces 131 and 132 with respectto the ski body 1 makes it possible to select the length F of theforce-transmission device 100 with respect to the narrowest part 5 ofthe ski body 1 and thus to set the desired skiing properties of therespective ski.

Since the spacer pieces 131 and 132 arranged on the ski body 1 arespaced apart from one another (FIGS. 4 and 8), that part of the loweredge 111 of the central section 112 of the ribs 103 to 108 which islocated between the inner side edges 128 and 129 of the spacer pieces131 and 132 is exposed. A further screw 143 passes through the centralthreaded opening 120 in the base plate 101, and its tip rests on the skibody 1 or on the pressure-equalizing plate 140. Said screw 143 islocated between the spacer pieces 131 and 132 arranged on the skibody 1. When said central screw 143 is screwed in deeper, then thatsection of the ski body 1 which is located between the fastening screws141 and 142 is bent downward. This is because, inter alia, the baseplate 101 is extremely stiff as a result of the strengthening ribs 103to 108. The front of the ski and the rear of the ski are forced upward.With the aid of the central screw 143, it is thus possible to changedecisively the prestressing in the ski and thus also the skiingproperties of the ski.

Since the underside 111 of the base plate 102 slopes upward in the endregions 48 and 49 of the same, snow could collect, between the baseslate 102 and the ski body 1, in these regions of the base plate 102 andchange the properties of the base plate 102 for skiing. In order toprevent this, inserts 144 and 145 made of a, for example, elastomericmaterial are located in these interspaces. A suitable selection of thematerial of these inserts 144 and 145 also makes it possible to controlthe prestressing in the ski and thus also the skiing properties thereof.

FIG. 11 shows a vertical section of the central section of an alpineski, said central section being equipped with a further embodiment ofthe means according to the invention. This means has a damping device30, which has already been described in conjunction with FIG. 3. Thetransmission device 100 described in conjunction with FIGS. 4 to 10 isfastened on the main section 35 of the damping device 30. The base 133of the spacer pieces 131 and 132 of said device 100 is located betweenthe planar main section 35 of the cover plate 31 of the damping device30 and the central section 112 of the central ribs 104 to 107 on thebase plate 101.

The transmission device also comprises at least one wedge 144 or 145made of an elastomeric material. In each case one of these wedges 144and 145 is arranged beneath the upwardly sloping end parts 113 and 114of the base plate 102. FIG. 11 shows the wedges 144 and 145 inconjunction with the damping device 30. It goes without saying, however,that these wedges 144 and 145 may also be used independently of thisdamping device 30. may then be used. The wedges 144 and 145 are thenlocated either directly in the upper side of the ski body 1 or on anequalizing or damping plate 140 which is arranged on the upper side ofthe ski body 1, beneath the means in question.

The main section 35 of the damping device 30 is provided with a centralopening, in which the already described central screw 143 can be screwedin order, inter alia, to be able to control the prestressing of the ski.Openings in which screws 146 are screwed are made in that region of themain section 35 which is located in front of said central opening, andthese screws 146 also pass through the openings 123 to 125 of the firstgroup 121. However, the length of these screws 146 is such that theyterminate in the damping material 33. Openings which correspond to thesecond group 122 of openings 123 to 125 in the base plate 101 are alsomade in said main section 35. Second screws 147 pass through theseopenings and extend into the ski body 1, where their ends are screwedin. These screws 147 secure the base plate 101 on the ski body 1. Thescrews 146 of the first group are thus sufficiently short to avoidobstructing bending of the ski body 1 which occurs during skiing.

FIG. 12 shows a vertical section of a detail from a further embodimentof the present invention. A bore 130 is made at least in one of the endregions 48 or 49 of the base plate 101 and virtually in the center ofthe width of the same. As has been mentioned, the central ribs 104 to107 terminate before the end regions 48 and 49, with the result that theunderside of the base plate 101 is planar in the end regions 48 and 49.In each case one block 150 made of a damping material is located,beneath the bore 130, in the end regions 48 and 49 and is advantageouslyembedded or positioned in the damping insert or in the damping wedge 144or 145.

The damping block 150 may be cuboidal, with the result that this block150 fills the space between the ski body 1 and the underside of the baseplate 101 over virtually the entire width of the ski body 1. It goeswithout saying that the block 150 may have a circular horizontal crosssection. In the case illustrated, the distance between the bore 130 inthe plate part 102 and the rear edge 117 of the plate part or of thebase plate 101 is greater than half the dimension of the damping block150 in the same direction. Consequently the outer side surface 151 ofthe damping block 150 is at a distance from the rear edge 117 of thebase plate 101. The same applies if the damping block 150 is used, or isalso used, in the region of the front edge 116 of the base plate 101.

The material of the damping block 150 may be elastomeric, in this casethe material of the damping block 150 differing from the material of thedamping wedges 144, 145. There are also plastics which, once they havebeen compressed, return to their original, noncompressed form in adelayed manner. Such damping materials may also be used in the dampingblock 150.

FIG. 13 shows a plan view of the base plate 101 of the means accordingto FIG. 4, two spacer pieces 131 and 132 being assigned to said baseplate 101. FIG. 14 illustrates a front view of the arrangement from FIG.13. It can be seen from FIG. 13 that the openings 123, 124 and 125 ofthe groups 121 and 122 on the base plate 101 are located in the regionof, and over, the slots 136, 137 and 138 in the spacer pieces 131 and132. This makes it possible for the fastening screws (not illustrated)to be able to pass both through the openings 123 to 125 in the baseplate 101 and through the slots 136 to 138 in the spacer pieces 131 and132. FIG. 13 illustrates the spacer pieces 131 and 132 in that positionin which they are spaced apart by the greatest possible distance. Theslots 136 to 138 make it possible for the spacer pieces 131 and 132 tobe displaced along the base plate 101 in order to achieve optimum forcetransmission between the ski boot 6 and the ski body 1.

During the period over which this means is in use, the ski body 1 isbent with respect to the stiff base plate 101, which may affect theposition of the spacer pieces 131 and 132 retained therebetween suchthat it is possible for their originally set position to change overtime in an uncontrolled manner. In order to prevent this, a furtherembodiment of the spacer pieces is provided. One of these spacer pieces152 is illustrated in plan view in FIG. 15. FIG. 16 shows a front viewof this spacer piece 152. Instead of the slots shown in FIG. 10, thissecond spacer piece 152 has three comparatively closely situated rows ofbores 154, the diameter of which is selected such that the fasteningscrews can pass through these openings 154. For setting the spacer piece152, first of all the latter is moved into the desired position and thenone of the fastening screws, inter alia, is also passed through thespacer-piece opening 154 located therebeneath and is screwed in.

When the ski is traveling through a curve, then the radius of the curveof the inner ski is smaller than the radius of the outer ski, as isshown in practice. The skis then have the tendency to move apart fromone another. When the means in question is used on skis which aremarkedly narrowed, said tendency is extremely noticeable. In order tocounteract this, a two-part embodiment of the spacer pieces is provided(FIGS. 17 and 18). The spacer piece 155 comprises two parts 157 and 158which have a basic body 159 with a U-shaped cross section (FIG. 19). Thebase 160 of the basic body 159 is adjoined by legs 161 and 162 of theU-profile. A slot 163 is made in the base 160 and corresponds to thoseslots 136, 137 and 138 which have been described in conjunction withFIG. 10.

FIG. 20 shows a bottom view of the base plate 101 of the means inquestion, two two-part spacer pieces 155 and 156 being assigned thereto.The base 160 of the respective part 157 or 158 of the spacer piece 155or 156 is only wide enough for the outer side of the first leg 161 ofthe U-profile to butt against the inner side of one of the outer ribs103 or 108 of the base plate 101 and for the outer side of the secondleg 162 of the U-profile to butt against the outer side of one of thecentral ribs 105 or 106. The base 160 of the respective spacer-piecepart 157 or 158 is thus only wide enough for the base 160 to span thewide gap M (FIG. 6) and only one of the narrow gap L between the ribs103 to 108 of the base plate 101. The fastening screw 125 passes throughthe wide gap M. As a result, the slot 163, which is made in the base 160and through which the screw 125 likewise passes, is located closer toone of the legs 161 or 162 of the U-shape. It can be seen from FIGS. 21,22 and 23 how the spacer-piece parts 157 and 158 are specificallyassigned to the base plate 101. This assignment corresponds at leastessentially to that which has already been described above.

FIG. 18 shows a plan view of a second embodiment of the two-part spacerpiece 165, this being the same as the spacer piece 155 according to FIG.17 apart from the design of the opening in the base 160. The opening inthe base 160 is designed as a row of closely following bores 166, as hasalready been described in conjunction with FIG. 15. The purpose of thesebores 166 is to prevent the set position of the spacer-piece part 157 or158 from changing during the period over which the means is in use.

If the parts 157 and 158 of the spacer pieces 155 and 156 are designedas in shown in FIG. 17, then said parts 157 and 158 can be fixed in thatbores are made in the at least one of the legs 161 and 162 and in theouter ribs 103 and 108 of the base plate 101, a fastening screw 167 or apin passing through said bores. The abovementioned closely situated rowsof bores are made in the legs 161 and 162, while in each case one boreper spacer piece 155 or 156 suffices in the rib 103 or 108. FIG. 24shows the use of the bores which have just been described and of theassociated connecting screw 167 in the case where the spacer piece 131is wide, i.e. when the latter extends over the entire width of the baseplate 101.

FIG. 25 shows a vertical section of a further possible embodiment of thefirst part 157 of the first spacer piece 155. For fixing saidspacer-piece part 157 beneath the base plate 101, that edge of the leg161 which faces the base plate 101 has teeth 168. When the fasteningscrew is tightened, these teeth 168 are pressed into the base of the gapM or L between the relevant ribs of the base plate, this resulting inthe position of the said part 157 being fixed with respect to the baseplate 101. It goes without saying that both the legs 161 and 162 of allthe parts 157 and 158 of the divided spacer pieces 155 and 156 and thelegs 134 and 135 of the wide spacer pieces 131 and 132 may be providedwith such teeth 168.

FIG. 26 illustrates a further embodiment of the base plate 170, which isparticularly stiff and can be used for the means in question. This baseplate 170 has the abovedescribed plate part 102, the outer ribs 103 and108 projecting downward from the borders thereof. Instead of theabovedescribed individual central ribs 104 to 107, the present baseplate 170 has a single rib 171, which is approximately as wide as allthe central ribs 104 to 107 together. The wide gap M is also present inthis case between the respective outer ribs 103 or 108 of the base plate170 and the respectively facing side surface of the wide rib 171. Theunderside of this base plate is otherwise formed in the same manner asthe underside of the base plate according to FIG. 5.

FIG. 28 shows a plan view of an embodiment of the means according to theinvention which can be fitted on a snowboard. This means is illustratedin side view in FIG. 29 and in a front view in FIG. 30. The transmissiondevice 180 of said means comprises a base plate 181, the width of whichis selected such that bindings 182 and 183 for the boots of thesnowboarders [sic] may be positioned on the upper side of the base plate181. The base plate 181 comprises a plate part 185, from which twogroups 186 and 187 of ribs project downward. The respective group 186 or187 comprises an outer rib or rib border 191 and three inner ribs 192,193 and 194. The distances between the ribs 191 to 194 of a group 186 or187 are equal. The groups 186 and 187 of ribs are spaced apart by adistance which is larger than the distance between two adjacent ribs ofthe same group, with the result that the underside of the plate part 185is planar between the groups 186 and 187 of ribs.

The spacer pieces 195 and 196 of this embodiment are divided spacerpieces and may essentially be designed as has been described inconjunction with FIG. 17 and the following figures. However, the base197 of the respective part 195 or 196 of the spacer pieces is wider thanin the case of the abovedescribed spacer pieces, in accordance with thewidth of a snowboard.

FIG. 31 shows a plan view of a transmission device which can be used onso called monoski. FIG. 32 shows a front view of this means. The baseplate 198 of this means is of essentially the same design as the baseplate 101 of the means according to FIG. 4, although the present baseplate 198 is somewhat wider. The same also applies to the spacer pieces199.

FIG. 33 shows a side view of a detail from the central part of a skiwhich is equipped with a further embodiment of the means according tothe invention. FIG. 34 shows a plan view of the transmission plate ofthe means according to FIG. 33. FIG. 35 shows a side view, an enlargedscale, of approximately half of the transmission plate of FIG. 33, whichis provided with a specially designed central scew.

The base plate 201 of the means according to FIG. 33 differs from thebase plate 101 according to FIGS. 4 to 7, in particular, in that it hastransverse ribs 202, 203 and 204. These transverse ribs 202 to 204 runperpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the base plate 201 andthe longitudinal ribs 103 to 108 and are distributed over the length ofthe base plate 201. The central transverse rib 203 is located virtuallyin the center of the length of the base plate 201. The respective outertransverse rib 202 or 204 is located between the center and the relevantend edge 116 or 117, respectively, of the base plate 201. In the caseillustrated, the respectively outer transverse rib 202 or 204 is locatedin the region of the transition between the horizontal section 112 andthe upwardly sloping section 113 or 114, respectively, of thelongitudinal ribs 103 to 108. The transverse ribs 202 to 204 increasethe torsional rigidity of the base plate 201. The base plate 201 mayhave a smaller number or larger number of transverse ribs than isindicated here.

Impact dampers 210 are provided, in each case one of which is assignedto one of the end parts 48 and 49 of the base plate 201. These impactdampers 210 may be designed as hydraulic dampers. The respective damper210 is located between the relevant end part 48 or 49 of the base plate201 and the ski body 1. In the upper region, the damper 210 has ascrew-bolt 211 which passes through a corresponding opening in the endparty [sic] 48 or 49 of the base plate 201 and is firmly secured to thebase plate 201 with the aid of a nut 212. That end part of the damper210 which faces the ski body 1 rests on the upper side of the ski body 1and can be firmly secured to the ski body 1.

FIG. 35 shows a central screw 213, which is illustrated in partialvertical section. This screw 213 corresponds to the central screw 143which has been described above in conjunction with FIG. 8. The presentcentral screw 213 is screwed in the plate part 102 of the base plate 201and has a hollow bolt 214 which opens toward the ski body 1. A strongspring 215 is accommodated in the interior of said screw-bolt 214. Aball 216 is arranged in the area where the cavity in the screw-bolt 214opens out, and the spring 215 presses on said ball. When said centralscrew 213 is screwed in to the depth which is required for the initialsetting of the transmission device, then the spring 215 yields somewhatif the transmission device is subjected at any time to overloading,which could result in damage to the ski body 1 by an excessive pressureof the screw 213.

The plate 140, on which the spacer pieces 131 and 132 rest, is anenergy-storage plate as well as a pressure-distributing plate. Thismeans that this plate 140 absorbs the energy released during bending ofthe ski body 1 and returns this energy to the ski body 1 again when thelatter is relieved of pressure. This has the result that, although themarkedly narrowed ski body 1 can bend easily, it resumes its originalform quickly once relieved of pressure. This energy-storage plate 140may be made of spring steel or a plastic with properties similar tothose of spring steel. Such a plate 140 is firmly secured to the upperside of the ski body 1. The plate can be secured by adhesive bonding,expediently in a compliant manner. The plate can be secured, forexample, by using double-sided adhesive tape.

In order that the spacer pieces 131 and 132 (FIG. 10) can butt againstone another, at least one of the border parts of the base 133 of saidspacer pieces 131 and 132 is provided with an approximately semicircularrecess 148, which adjoins one of the end edges 149 of the spacer piece131 or 132, said end edges connecting the legs 134 and 135 of the spacerpiece. The radius of the recess 148 corresponds to the radius of thecentral screw 143 or 213. It is true, in principle, that the more thebasic body of the snowboard or ski is narrowed, the more advantageousthe effect of the means according to the invention on the functioning ofsaid snowboard or ski. An important advantage of the means according tothe invention is that, without changing the position of the binding withrespect to the ski body, the force transmission between the boot 6 andski body 1 can be set optimally in accordance with requirements bydisplacing the spacer pieces.

I claim:
 1. An arrangement for securing a snowboard or ski to a boot of the snowboarder or skier, comprising a transmission device (50; 100) which transmits forces from the boot (6) into a narrowest region (5) of a width of the snowboard or ski (1),the transmission device (50; 100) having an elongate base plate (53; 101) on which there is fitted a binding (11, 12) for fastening the boot (6), the transmission device (100) further comprising two spacer pieces (131, 132) which are engaged to the base place (101) and to the ski body (1), the spacer pieces (131, 132) being adjustably engaged in a central region of the base plate (101) for longitudinal movement relative to the base plate, and being spaced apart from one another by a distance (F) and from a center of the base plate (101), wherein the base plate (101) has a plate portion (102) and a plurality of ribs (103, 104, 105, 106, 107 and 108) which project downward from the plate portion, the plurality of ribs (103 to (108) extending in the longitudinal direction of the base plate (101), sides of the spacer pieces (131, 132) being engaged to two outermost ribs (103, 108) of said plurality of ribs, and an outer side of each of said spacer pieces (131 or 132) facing an upper side of the ski body (1).
 2. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of ribs (103 to 108) are integral with the plate portion (102) of the base plate (101), the plurality of ribs being distributed over a width of the plate portion (102) and spaced apart from one another, said plurality of ribs being parallel to one another and parallel and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the elongate base plate (101), and having an essentially square cross section.
 3. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a bore (120) is made approximately in a center of the plate portion (102), a first and a second group (121 or 122) of bores (123, 124, 125) located in the plate portion (102), the first group of bores being spaced apart from said central bore (120), wherein said first group of bores (121) is located between the central bore (120) and a front end (116) of the base plate (101) and the second group of bores (122) is located between the central bore (120) and a rear end (117) of the base plate, and a distance between said first and said second group of bores (123, 124 and 125) is smaller than a distance between parts (11, 12) of a binding mounted on the base plate (101).
 4. The arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the bore 120 is a threaded bore.
 5. The arrangement according to claim 3, wherein outer bores 123, 124 of said first and said second group of bores is located in a region of a gap M between the outermost plurality of ribs and the central plurality of ribs and that a middle bore 125 of said first and said second group of bores located between the outer bores, is arranged in a central gap L between the central plurality of ribs.
 6. The arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the bores are arranged on a common line which is at right angles to a longitudinal axis of the plate part 102, the middle bore being arranged so as to be offset away from the common line toward a nearest end of ends of the plate portion 102 and that a distance between the groups of bores is smaller than a length of the first rib section 112 of the plurality of ribs.
 7. The arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the base plate 102 and the spacer pieces 131, 132 are retained on the ski body 1 by screws which pass through the first and the second group of bores, and the slots 136-138 to engage the ski body
 1. 8. The arrangement according to claim 3, wherein a further screw 143 passes through the central bore 120 in the base plate 101, and rests on the ski body 1 and that said screw 143 is located between the spacer pieces 131, 132, arranged on the ski body
 1. 9. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein each of said spacer pieces (131, 132) has a U-shaped cross section with a base (133) and with legs (134, 135) said base having longitudinal slots (136, 137, 138; 163) which run parallel to a longitudinal axis of the legs, the position of said longitudinal slots corresponding to a position of the bores (123, 124, 125) on the base plate (101), and a height of the legs (134, 135; 161, 162) being comparable with the height of the plurality ribs (103 to 108) on the base plate (101).
 10. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a pressure-distributing plate (140) is fastened on the upper side of the ski body (1), said plate (140) being adhesively bonded on the upper side of the ski body (1), and the spacer pieces (131, 132) resting on the upper side of said distributing plate.
 11. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of ribs comprise a first, second and third rib section (112, 113, 114), the first section (112) having a free edge (111) which runs parallel to an upper side (115) of the plate portion (102), said first rib section (112) being longer than the second and the third rib section (113, 114), the second and third section rib section (113, 114) extending from the first rib section (112) to a corresponding end (116, 117) of the plate portion (102), wherein the second and third rib section (113, 114) slope up from the first rib section (112) toward the corresponding end (116, 117) of the plate portion (102).
 12. The arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a damping device (30) comprising an elongated cover plate (31) fitted on the ski body (1), and a damping plate (33) made of a compliant material arranged between the cover plate (31) and the ski body (1), wherein, the transmission device is fitted on said damping device.
 13. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a bore (130) is made at least in one of end (116, 117) of the base plate (101) at a center of a width of said end, wherein a block (150) made of a damping material is arranged at said end located beneath said bore (130), the block being embedded in an insert (144, 145) between said base plate and said ski body.
 14. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a width of said base plate 101 is approximately the same as a width of the central section (5) of the ski body, and that said plurality of ribs (103-108) project at right angles from an underside of the plate portion
 102. 15. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein an outer side surface (109, 110) of the outermost plurality of ribs (103, 108) is located on a respective longitudinal border of the plate portion 102, and is flush with an abutting side edge of the plate portion
 102. 16. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein central plurality of ribs (104-107) of said plurality of ribs form a group located between the outermost plurality of ribs (103, 108) and are concentrated in a central region of a gap between the outermost plurality of ribs, the central plurality of ribs being spaced apart by a distance L which is smaller than a distance M between the central plurality of ribs and the outermost plurality of ribs.
 17. The arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the central plurality of ribs are shorter than the outermost plurality of ribs so that the underside of the plate portion 102 is planar in an end region of said plate portion 102, and wherein the outermost plurality of ribs terminate at a respective phase 126 at ends of the plate portion (116, 117). 